The affordable sports car is far from dead, but there are a lot fewer offerings than there used to be. The Mazda MX-5 Miata, the quintessential cheap performance vehicle, still exists. So do its competitors, the Subaru BRZ/Toyota GR86 twins. The hot hatch game in the US is pretty good right now as well, at least relatively. The Golf GTI, the cornerstone of the segment, is still around, as is its quicker sibling, the Golf R. The GR Corolla and the Honda Civic Type R are available, too, as are the value-minded Hyundai Elantra N and Civic Si, in case you prefer sedans.
The affordable mid-engine performance car segment hasn’t been as lucky. That area of the market, which used to include budget-minded performance machines like the Pontiac Fiero, the Fiat X1/9, and the Toyota MR2, has essentially dried up. The cheapest new mid-engine car you can buy right now is the Chevy Corvette, which starts at $71,995.
This trend isn’t entirely surprising. With automakers increasingly aiming to improve margins and lower costs, sports cars—which cost a lot to develop and usually sell in low numbers—are always the first to go. Developing a mid-engine sports car is especially costly, as it requires extra engineering and a standalone platform that can’t be used anywhere else in the lineup.
Why Is Toyota The Carmaker That Can Do It?
One reason is its history. Toyota has already built three generations of MR2, starting in 1984 with the blocky W10, before moving to the more smoothly designed W20 in 1989, and then the W30 in 1999. Production ended in 2007, marking what I’d call the end of the affordable mid-engine segment. That means the company already has the institutional knowledge required to approach such a project. Sure, it hasn’t done anything like this in 18 years, but still, it’s better than starting from scratch.
That being said, Toyota is doing this sort of low-volume performance stuff already, to an extent. The reason it can tackle a new MR2 project is the same reason it can justify building cars like the GR Yaris, the GR Corolla, the GR Supra, and its upcoming GR GT supercar: It’s an absolutely gargantuan company that can easily absorb the added costs.
The sheer volume of cars like the RAV4—which, as a reminder, was the best-selling car on Earth last year—means Toyota doesn’t have to worry as much about making a big profit on a two-door, rear-drive coupe that only a few thousand people a year will buy. Honda, for example, might not be able to take those same liberties, since it’s a smaller manufacturer that can’t disperse the costs as widely.
There’s also Toyota’s attitude. Toyota doesn’t have to build an array of sports cars, much less a halo car or a cheap mid-engine machine. It did just fine for years without such a vehicle in its U.S. lineup, after all. But because the executives at the top of the pyramid are enthusiasts who want to see fun cars from their brand, they make them happen. There’s chairman Akio Toyoda, of course, who loved racing so much that he famously raced in the Nürburgring 24 under a pseudonym. But company CEO Koji Sato, who was appointed in 2023, is also a hardcore car guy.
Yeah, Okay, But Will Toyota Do It?
There’s been a lot of evidence over the past few years to suggest the company might actually move forward with an MR2 revival. Rumors have been flying about the car’s return in earnest since 2019, when Car and Driver suggested it might return as an EV.
Speculators and fans of Mr. 2 on the internet got particularly excited in 2023, when Toyota took the sheets off the FT-Se concept, an all-electric sports car with mid-engine proportions. Then, earlier this year, the company revealed the GR Yaris M concept, a GR Yaris with its engine mounted in the middle.
While car companies don’t often build running, driving prototypes just for the fun of it, it’s important not to come to conclusions just yet. Remember Hyundai’s series of mid-engine Veloster hatchback concepts? The first one debuted all the way back in 2014, and the company still hasn’t come up with anything for production.
That being said, the news of Toyota acquiring patents does add some fuel to the fire. Japanese language news site Creative Trend spotted local patent applications for GR MR2 and GR MR-S (MR-S being the third-gen car’s name in Japan). Automakers file patents for names they never use all the time, of course, so this isn’t definitive proof Toyota’s plotting the MR2’s return.
But once you factor in Toyota’s position in the market, the years of rumors, and the existence of that Yaris prototype, things start to get more interesting. In any case, I’m optimistic.
Top graphic image: Toyota
Nice car, but it ain’t for us…
The history in this arena is pretty clear– Toyoda-san knows volumes will be small, so they’ve set the precedent for “platform sharing” with the BMW and Subie tie-ups.
The question is “who?” would be a like-minded partner? You’ll know the odds have improved when you hear rumours of a Honda or Mazda mid-engine development.
Or, NUMMI buying Fremont back from a dying Tesla– so they can finally build the mid-engine GM-Toyota Vibe-o-Trix of our dreams.
tl;dr… I do not see Toyota building this without a partner to share cost/risk
We had an ’03 MR2. It’s been on my mind to buy another one after we get done with our next move. Would be interesting to see what a new one turns out like. They would have to offer it with a manual though, it’s a sports car you only would buy for fun (only maniacs like my wife and I would commute any real distance in one!) so offering it with an automatic, or even worse a CVT, would ruin the fun.
I test drove one and fell in love with it up until I put the top up and hit the highway. I’m 6’1 but should probably be 6’4 as I have a very short neck and once the top was up it was impossible to change lanes safely.
I’m only 5′ 11″, and my wife was 5′ 2″, neither of us had any issues with visibility on the highway with the top up. I could easily see it being an issue for the taller people among us however.
We drove it year round in Maine, so the top was up much of the year, too. My wife did prefer driving on the backroads rather than the interstate though, something about a super light car with barely any metal around you surrounded by 18 wheelers and one ton trucks was rather disconcerting.
So a Lotus that actually works? Sign me up.
You just have to pick the right Lotus. I use my 2007 Europa in exactly the same way as I did my four MR2s. Daily drive.
I also dailied my S1 Elise 160, but not with constant worry about head gaskets, demisting, having no AC and being seen falling out of it.
Don’t forget the wildly ineffective S1 top. Or maybe I’m just lucky. The S2 short tail top was like a vault by comparison. I also could take it off without even getting out of my seat.
The S1 tent was a shambles, but I had a hardtop, and it was amazingly leak free.
The S2 short tail roof is a dream, and easy just to pop-up one side of you’re tall and get stuck trying to get out.
Lord you forgot to put the allen key back into it’s little holder also. S1 top also somehow managed to make interior even louder compared topless. Quite an accomplishment. That reminds me I need to adjust my passenger side window alignment.
I’d say most Elise and newer Lotuses are actually fundamentally not too shabby. Foibles and quirks, but not things that will leave you stranded. Mostly.
Does “patent” mean something different in Japan? Branding and names are registered trademarks, patents are for reserving rights to proprietary technology or processes.
Same difference as in English: tokkyo (特許) means patent, shōhyō (商標) means trademark.
I’m having a total Berenstain Bears moment. I owned an 86 MR2, and I swear they were called the AW11, and the second gen the SW20.
But, hey look, Wikipedia has the generations listed as you do, the W10, W20, and W30.
This is the most upsetting thing that has happened to me today.
AW11, SW20 and ZZW30 is definitely the more common vernacular.
I don’t think this needs to be as expensive as many people make it out to be. It’ll be slightly smaller and lighter than a Prius. All they’d really need to do is build a backwards Prius that’s strictly hybrid, a PHEV backwards Prius, and a much more expensive backwards GR Yaris. They already have multiple drivetrains that could work and are compact, material wise it’ll cost less, and sporty cars tend to come with less creature comforts like 84 way adjustable seats and rear butt coolers. If they priced these at $33K, $38K, and $45K I don’t think too many people would be upset and they’d still be making 5K more than the car / powertrain it’s based on.
Do it like it should be done:
Slap the Corolla front subframe in the rear of a mid-engined car.
Base model with the base Corolla engine, and the Halo version with the GR Corolla engine attached to a standard 6-speed transaxle.
Avoid any added tech that you wouldn’t put in a modern base commuter car. Or add a separate trim for the fancy shit.
I mean, that’s exactly what they did the first time; drop the 16 valve corolla engine in the back. Mk1 valve covers were “upside down” in that “Toyota” and “16 Valve” was upside down as it was meant to be viewed from the other side.
That’s why I said what I said. Keep it cheap by parts binning as much as possible.
Sure Toyota can make it.
But I’m not convinced Toyota can make it affordable or attractive.
For the price point they’d have to hit to sell many? Almost have to partner with a Honda or Mazda– both of which they’d be open to. And, I know the S2000 fans would adore an new, mid-engined S2000.
It can’t be TOO expensive BTW, the C8 still is a lotta car at $65K or whatever it starts at these days. So, it’s probably 300-350HP at a $40-$50K price point
I owned a W10 MT (1986) with wing for 17 years. I should have kept it, but space was an issue. It was a great car for me and I commuted with it. It would be great if Toyota built a new version, but the truth is that I would not buy it. I’m getting too long in the tooth for that type of vehicle. In contrast to me, a classmate of mine just bought one for himself. Some years ago, I helped road test a C7 Corvette for his wife that they found in my neck of the woods (CA). It was cherry and they had it shipped back east (DC).
I gotta ask.
If it’s an EV, is it really mid-engined?
It is not.
I agree.
Technically, no, but it can be mid-motored.
Why would you put an EV motor anywhere other than an axle?
The definition of mid-engined is that the crank centreline is between the axles (for transverse engines at least). With a nice simple gearbox (like a Tesla) the motor centreline isn’t in line with the axle, so they are already technically mid-engined, or could be if at the right end of the car (I don’t have access to Tesla CAD data any more to check).
Motor on axle doesn’t mean it can’t be mid-engined.
I can think of lots of reasons, but the axle is the preferred location.
Here’s one of them: My trike currently has a hub motor powering the rear wheel built around an axle. I’m about to switch it out for a mid-drive configuration that will run a racing kart chain to a sprocket on a rear limited slip differential, converting it from a tadpole trike into a quad. A differential is preferred because I still have a pedal drivetrain in this vehicle and can power it with my legs when I want to. Given the components on the market, this was the cheapest and easiest solution, otherwise I’d have hub motors in all four wheels.
I will still have hub motors on the front wheels, each with a built-in axle.
Why are you moving away from a tadpole? Are three wheels not enough for the kind of power you want to use? I always thought that style trike was an attractive and elegant solution for a small, single person vehicle.
I only have a single drive wheel in the rear. I want to double the horsepower(or more), and already have insufficient traction at 10 kW. 0-60 mph in 7 seconds is still too slow. I want faster. In order to accommodate a teardrop shape, the rear track is still going to be more narrow than the front track, ala 1st gen Honda Insight.
The definition of an engine is a machine with moving parts that converts power in to motion.
So electric motors are engines.
Ok, then head down to autozone and ask for a new wiper engine.
Gotta go now. My wrist engine is telling that break is over.
Don’t tell me it’s not a common usage, tell the people who write dictionaries.
It’s true. They are the real villains!
Since they redefined “literally” as also being the opposite of literally I’ve lost all respect for them.
Good argument.
All EVs are no-engine.
Yep. exactly.
Time for a new Mister Two.
If Toyota can build mid-engined supercharged minivans, they can do this. I saw a Lexus LM (Vellfire) hybrid luxury minivan on the freeway in Southern California with dealer plates a few weeks ago. That thing looked cool as hell and I bet the backseat was a nice place to be.
Why ask Toyota of this?
Is it just because they have the money?
Or because, unlike GM, Ford, and Stellantis, that it’s unlikely to come out horridly compromised and/or unreliable – and then killed off well before its time?
I mean, Ford is capable of the beautiful Ford GT. And GM shows a glimmer with the Saturn Sky. And Stellantis, erm, exists.
My GF has an 08 Skyline Red Line her mom gave her and she loves that thing. I’ve driven it a few times, if it were manual I would probably like it more.
I personally thought the Saturn Sky was the best looking between the three of them (four if you count the Daewoo).
Well if we’re getting kei-cars (fat chance) there are quite a few Japanese makers that can do mid engine cars …
If only GM would take the front suspension and drivetrain from the Cruze, then place it in the back of a nice flimsy frankenstein chasis, then adorn the 1.4t with one of those nifty cheap wet rubber timing belts, they could really have a hit on their hands.
Something like the DF Goblin?
https://www.dfkitcar.com/
That’s pretty cool, but I was actually referencing the recipe for the Fiero
We shall start by defining affordable.30K, 40K, 50K?
Base price of $33K, giving plenty of room for the GR or other special editions that push $50K. Of course dealerships will markup the shit out of any special editions so who the hell knows what you would actually pay.
That’s why the talk of affordability is moot. If Toyota doesn’t price it at $65,000 or more, dealerships will just fill in the gap. There are no affordable cars anymore, and I refuse to redefine the word for today’s out of control prices.
Gotta follow the path they did before, and the mustang still does today:
base engine (Corolla engine) -> Halo engine (GR Corolla engine)
No one will accept premium pricing for the non-turbo offering, leaving it as a great entry level.
People wanna hear 30-40, but I doubt they would be cheaper than the mid-high trim Supra’s that are currently for sale. Starting mid to low 50’s? With the average car price at 50k, it might not cheap, but its “affordable” for the average car buyer.
10K. 12 in a pinch.
I said the only thing that would get me to get rid of the turbo BRZ I had was finally finding a GR Corolla. I did, and sold the BRZ.
The only thing that would get me to get rid of the GR-C is a well-done MR2. Which can be ICE or hybrid, as long as it’s quick (I don’t think I’m ready for an EV). Doesn’t have to be high HP as long as it’s light. Just like an MR2 should be.
I had an 88 MR2 I rallycrossed (while everyone else did Subbie or Miata), and then an 87 supercharged that I regret selling to this day.
Where does your replacement sequence end, if money is no object?
Crabs.
Everything evolves into crabs.
I’m doing a weird cross-shop right now. Which would you choose based on your experience with the GR:
GR Corolla or 2005 911 Carrera
I honestly find these similarly appealing, but for different reasons.
I don’t have any experience with 911’s, I had a 944 Turbo a couple years ago but that’s it.
I have zero regrets with the GR-C & look forward to driving it every time, 1.5 years later. It actually has a useful backseat as well, even if I haven’t used it for people. I can fit my 50gal Husky bin with costume and room left over.
I know from the 944T experience that everything is next-level maintenance-wise with Porsche. Simple stuff, heavy stuff, everything will be $$ and yours is 20yrs old.
Thanks for the response.
I’ve heard the same about Porsche maintenance.
I have a rare opportunity to get the 911 at a discounted price, so that’s why I’m considering it. The GR really is more my style though.
They should have done a “MR3” when they did the Toyobaru.
Mid-engine, rear wheel drive, 3 seater?
Sure – why not? Put it sideways for extra cool factor. But I figured MR3 can just be the next iteration of MR2.
I’ve pined for an EV or PHEV modern MR2. Toyota could easily make it if they were willing to accept that it wouldn’t be a money printer. I’d throw some heavy chains on all of the doors at Toyota HQ and tell them they can’t leave until they have a prototype.
To keep things on the right track I’d also hire some yakuza to walk around with wiffle bats and mercilessly beat anyone who so much as utters the word “Hydrogen”.
“To keep things on the right track I’d also hire some yakuza to walk around with wiffle bats and mercilessly beat anyone who so much as utters the word “Hydrogen”.”
Username checks out.
As a small sportscar fan, I would love this. But being a card carrying pessimist, I have serious doubts this will evern come to fruition. Even if it does I would be absolutly amazed if it shows up at less that $50k and then in limited numbers. Toyota dealers being what they are, they will slap an extra $20k ‘marked adjustment’ in the hood and blow any affordability straight into the dumpster.
Hard to imagine something new coming out that I’d be more interested in buying, assuming it’s done right.
Come on Toyota, let’s see it.
Make it aerodynamically slippery like a VW XL1 so that the battery can be sized 40 kWh or less for a 200+ mile highway range, and the curb weight can then be kept with a 2 in front of it, maybe even getting close to that of a Miata. Give it a 300 horsepower electric drive system, price it around $30k or less, and a lot of enthusiasts are going to lust after it.
Or use the V6 (it was good enough for Lotus) and the 18 kWh battery of the Lexus TX plug-in hybrid.
Even easer than a new car, build a mid-engined GR Corolla, a la R5 Turbo. The GR Corolla already has a small engine and driven wheels in the rear. Pop out the rear seats, put in an engine, and result.
That just put a big smile on my face thinking about it.
Are you the same Emil Minty that played the role of The Feral Kid in The Roadwarrior?
A modern MR2 could be awesome. I’ve really enjoyed driving my ’91 MR2; it’s a surprisingly practical and daily-able vehicle. Tons of fun too, obviously.
Can they also make the body parts plastic and removable? That would really help with this Quicksilver II idea I’ve been kicking around
Imagine taking the GR Yaris front subframe and moving it to the back!
If I can Honda K swap a Fiero then Toyota can 100% make another MR2 using the GR Yaris as the basis.
Toyota I am willing to do some of the development work if you send me a GR Yaris front subframe with a complete drivetrain and ECU. It might look like a Fiero, but I guarantee the work will transfer to whatever you decide to do 🙂
That engine already has heat issues mounted in the front, so it might end up more like a Fiero than anyone would want.
With a front radiator you could put fins on the pipes and manage heat better while balancing the weight. Fiero fires were an oil/fuel and header issue not an engine cooling issue. The Fiero floor is flat back to where the engine is then it has great airflow up and out. You could put the intercooler in the path of that airflow and address the issue.
Damit, you are a Toyota engineer milking me for my Fiero knowledge to further your program!!! I am on to you!!! <- joke obviously.